Hunter Valley 10.5% Screwcap $35
If writing notes about young, dry Australian Riesling poses certain problems then those are brought into even sharper relief when you are looking at young Hunter Semillon. There’s just not a lot to describe. Often that leads to making straight value judgements and, in time, you find out how ‘correct’ those were. Interesting really; you could argue that Hunter Semillon lends itself more to scores than any other variety…but I don’t do scores.
This is a bit more forward than many, but that seems to be a feature of the 2010 vintage in the Hunter as far as the variety goes. The 2010 Tyrrell’s Vat 1, though a better wine, was the same. So I’m not going to see the tropical fruit as a negative or as any reason the wine won’t age well. In fact, I’d leave this alone for at least another 8 years, but that is partially personal preference.
The acidity is not of the battery kind, it’s gentler and seems to manifest on the back palate as chalky, talc-like minerality. There is, of course, ample citrus and good length. A bit of texture too. I think it will develop very nicely. I guess time will tell.
Winery website- http://www.scarboroughwine.com.au/
could be superlative in a few year's time
I suspect so. So many good Hunter Semillons to choose from. Tyrrell's Vat 1 and Thomas Braemore are at the top my "to cellar" list, of those I've tasted thus far from 2010.
Hey Jeremy, have my eye on 2010 Sems, it being my daughter's birth year and the need to think about cellaring some long term prospects. I'm with you in thinking the Tyrell's offer that. Certainly intrigued by Thommo's Braemore…
The Tyrrell's and Braemore really did seem to have the sort of impressive structure, focus, intensity and length to indicate that they will do 10+ years easily. I'm sure others will too, but those have been the stand outs from those I've tasted so far. I should probably add that I like at least 10 years on my Hunter Semillon (providing it is of high enough quality). I'd keep a keen eye on The Wine Front. Those guys are pretty much always on the money when it comes to Hunter Sem.
When it comes to 'wine' birth years in general, I reckon you couldn't have done too much better than 2010, at least as far as Australian wine is concerned. Have fun filling your cellar